Check valve



Nov. 5, 1963 A. l. MIHALAKIS l 3,109,451

CHECK VALVE Filed Jan. 25, 1961 INVENTOR. AGISl I. MIHALAKIS FIG.7. BY of Ml ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 5, 1963 i ce 3,109,451 CHECK VALVE Agis I. Mihalalds, Northridge, Calif., assigner, by mesne assignments, to AIM Pump Corporation, Canoga Park, Calif., a corporaticn of California Filed Jan. 23, 1961, Ser. No. 84,390 2 Claims. (Cl. 137-516.11)

This linvention relates to valves and is particularly directed to an improved form of check valve assembly.

An important object of this invention is to provide a check valve assembly having a single moving part with low inertia characteristics for rapid movement to` and from open and closed position.

Another object is to provide a device of this type particularly adapted for use with air or gas and useful in service as interstage or outlet valves for compressors.

Another object is to provide a device of this type having a minimum of restriction when open, in order to secure maximum iluid flow while providing a tight seal against reverse low.

Another object is to provide a device of this type in in which the moving element ilexes from a curve to a tlat shape when moving from open to closed position.

Another object is tot provide a rugged, dependable device of the type described, characterized by troublefree operation and long service life.

Other and more detailed objects and advantages of this invention will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a top plan view showing a preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional side elevation taken substantially on the lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1, the arched valve element being in open position.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 2, the valve element being in closed position.

FIGURE 4 is an end elevation.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the lines 5-5 of FIGURE 3, and showing the parts in closed position.

FIGURE d is a plan view of the movable valve plate.

FIGURE 7 is a plan lview of the stationary plate.

Referring now to the drawings, the housing ydesignated generally 1l) includes an inlet part 11 and an outlet part 12. The Iinlet part 11 is provided with a threaded socket communicating with an inlet opening 14. Similarly, the outlet part i12 Iis provided with a threaded socket communicating with an outlet opening 16. A stationary plate 17 may comprise an integral part of the inlet member -1f1 or, as shown in the drawings, may comprise a separate part clamped between the housing parts 11 and 112 by means of the threaded fastenings 1d.

An elongated cavity 29l is provided within the housing and a curved exible valve element 21 is positioned within this cavity Ztl. The valve element 2.1 is generally rectangular in shape and is normally arched, having its curvature along the longitudinal dimension thereof. Valve element 21 is provided with an elongated slot 22 centrally and symmetrically positioned therein. As shown in FIGURE 2, the ends or" the exible curved valve element 2-1 rest on the flat upper surface 24 of the stationary plate 17. The plate 17 is provided with elongated apertures 25 which are out of registry with the slot 22 of the ilexible valve element `17. Parallel ribs 26 on the outlet part 12 project into the cavity and form shoulders limiting upward movement of the valve element 21 away from the flat sealing surface 24. The upper portion of the curved element 21 normally contacts these shoulders. A central elongated passage 27 is formed in the outlet member i12 between ribs 26 and this passage is in registry with the central slot 22 of the movable lvalve 21. Additional passages 28 are provided in the outlet part 12 along the outer boundaries of the ribs 25. The passages 27 and 28 communicate with the outlet opening 16. Similarly, the apertures 25 in the stationary plate 17 communicate with the inlet opening 14.

Guide means may be provided for guiding the ends of the ilexible valve element 21, and as shown in the drawings and this means may comprise guide pins 30 which are ixed in the plate 17. The pins 39` are loosely received in guide openings 31 provided in the valve 21.

The check valve device as disclosed herein is adapted for use in connection with the compressor device shown in my `co-pending application, Serial No. 707,042, led January 6, 1958, now `Patent Number 2,926,677. When so used, the inlet part 11 and the outlet part 12 are modified Iin exterior shape for incorporation into the design of the particular unit, and the valves ser-ve as interstage `check valves as well as the outlet valve for the iinal stage.

When the parts are in open position as shown in FIG- URE 2, the ends of the arched valve element 21 rest on the ilat sealing surface 24 of the stationary plate 17, and the central portion :contacts the ribs 2d.

Whenever back pressure in the outlet 15 exceeds the iluid pressure in the inlet 14, the arched spring leaf valve element 211 attens out against the upper surface of the stationary plate d'7, as shown in FIGURE 3. When the velocity of uid entering the inlet opening 14 reaches a predetermined magnitude, the ends of the arched Vvalve element move away Afrom the surface 24 and come to rest against the shoulders provided by the parallel ribs 2d on the outlet `member 12. The parts are then in extreme open position. In this position, free unrestricted ow of tluid takes place from the inlet opening 14 through the apertures 2S in the stationary plate 17 into the central cavity 2d. The iiuid then lows through thetslot 22 in the movable valve element 21 as well as around the side edges of the valve plate 21. The fluid enters the passageways 27 and 28 in the out let part 12 and passes to the outlet opening 16.

Whenever back pressure in the outlet 1S exceeds the fluid pressure in the inlet 14, the arched spring leaf Valve element 21 dattens out against the upper surface of the stationary plate 17, as shown in FIGURE 3.

It has been found that the valve assembly also functions with good results with the arched valve element 21 installed in inverted position, that is, with its convex surface in contact with the stationary plate 17. The liexing action takes place as described above to form sealing contact with the surface 24 when fluid pressure in the outlet 15 exceeds the iuid pressure in the inlet 14.

The valve element 21 has very low inertia and flexes rapidly between open and closed positions. A tight seal is formed in closed position and free, unrestricted flow occurs in open position.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that l am not to be limited to the details herein set forth but that my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A check valve, comprising: a housing structure delining an elongated, rectangular, flat cavity, and inlet and outlet openings intersecting opposite ilat sides of said cavity centrally thereof, said cavity extending beyond said openings along a longitudinal axis; a valve seat plate covering the inlet side of said cavity and the intersecting inlet opening therein; said valve seat plate having at least a pair of elongated inlet slots having a longitudinal dimension greater than that of said inlet opening and communicating at their central portions with said inlet opening and forming passages for lateral 110W to their extremities; elongated rios extending from the outlet opening side of said cavity in registry with said slots; a rectangular valve element in the form of an arched exible strip having at least one longitudinal slot therein, said slot having a longitudinal dimension greater than that of either said inlet or outlet openings; and forming on opposite sides of said slots elongated valve faces, said Valve elementV disposed in said cavity between said ribs and inlet slots and normally arched away from said inlet slots, said valve faces dimensioned to cover and seal said inlet slots upon attening said valve element against said valve seat plate.

2. A check valve, comprising: a rst housing member having an elongated rectangular recess, a pair of ribs extending longitudinally in said recess, and an outlet port communicating with said recess, said recess extending beyond said outlet port along its longitudinal axis; a rectangular seat plate covering said recess and defining a pair of elongated inlet slots disposed in registry with said ribs, said plate forming between and around said slots valve seating faces; a second housing member backing said valve plate and having an inlet port communicating with said recess through the slots in said valve seat plate,

said inlet slots having a longitudinal dimension Vgreater References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,177,291 Trautmann Mar. 28, 1916 1,402,082 Moran Jan. 3, 1922 1,957,867 Rike May 8, 1934 2,195,292 Albertson Mar. 26, 1940 2,497,906 Peters Feb. 21, 1950 2,615,675 Mellert Oct. 28, 1952 2,943,638 Prucha July 5, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 753,258 Germany Mar. 3, 1940 

1. A CHECK VALVE, COMPRISING: A HOUSING STRUCTURE DEFINING AN ELONGATED, RECTANGULAR, FLAT CAVITY, AND INLET AND OUTLET OPENINGS INTERSECTING OPPOSITE FLAT SIDES OF SAID CAVITY CENTRALLY THEREOF, SAID CAVITY EXTENDING BEYOND SAID OPENINGS ALONG A LONGITUDINAL AXIS; A VALVE SEAT PLATE COVERING THE INLET SIDE OF SAID CAVITY AND THE INTERSECTING INLET OPENING THEREIN; SAID VALVE SEAT PLATE HAVING AT LEAST A PAIR OF ELONGATED INLET SLOTS HAVING A LONGITUDINAL DIMENSION GREATER THAN THAT OF SAID INLET OPENING AND COMMUNICATING AT THEIR CENTRAL PORTIONS WITH SAID INLET OPENING AND FORMING PASSAGES FOR LATERAL FLOW TO THEIR EXTREMITIES; ELONGATED RIBS EXTENDING FROM THE OUTLET OPENING SIDE OF SAID CAVITY IN REGISTRY WITH SAID SLOTS; A RECTANGULAR VALVE ELEMENT IN THE FORM OF AN ARCHED FLEXIBLE STRIP HAVING AT LEAST ONE LONGITUDINAL SLOT THEREIN, SAID SLOT HAVING A LONGITUDINAL DIMENSION GREATER THAN THAT OF EITHER SAID INLET OR OUTLET OPENINGS; AND FORMING ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID SLOTS ELONGATED VALVE FACES, SAID VALVE ELEMENT DISPOSED IN SAID CAVITY BETWEEN SAID RIBS AND INLET SLOTS AND NORMALLY ARCHED AWAY FROM SAID INLET SLOTS, SAID VALVE FACES DIMENSIONED TO COVER AND SEAL SAID INLET SLOTS UPON FLATTENING SAID VALVE ELEMENT AGAINST SAID VALVE SEAT PLATE. 